NEW DELHI: Why should aspiring lawmakers get "immunity" from disclosing their source of income, the Supreme Court questioned today while hearing a petition that cited instances of lawmakers declaring only a sharp increase in the value of their assets. The court's observation comes a day after it was told 7 parliamentarians and 98 legislators were being investigated by tax authorities for disproportionate assets.
Fifteen years ago, the top court had mandated that everyone contesting elections for a public office would have to come clean on their education, criminal record and assets. The NGO, Lok Pahari, which filed the petition, argued it was time for the court to raise the bar for elected representatives and candidates should be made to declare their source of income too.
"People who want to become legislators... should they get immunity," the court asked. It has reserved its judgment on disclosure of source of income by candidates contesting polls.
Attorney General Venugopal, however, contended that the court that individual's income tax returns could not be made public by tax authorities under the existing law.
The court had then observed that though the government was saying that it was not averse to electoral reforms, it has not placed the necessary details. Even the information furnished before it in an affidavit by the CBDT was "not complete", it had added.
Fifteen years ago, the top court had mandated that everyone contesting elections for a public office would have to come clean on their education, criminal record and assets. The NGO, Lok Pahari, which filed the petition, argued it was time for the court to raise the bar for elected representatives and candidates should be made to declare their source of income too.
"People who want to become legislators... should they get immunity," the court asked. It has reserved its judgment on disclosure of source of income by candidates contesting polls.
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Attorney General Venugopal, however, contended that the court that individual's income tax returns could not be made public by tax authorities under the existing law.
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The court had then observed that though the government was saying that it was not averse to electoral reforms, it has not placed the necessary details. Even the information furnished before it in an affidavit by the CBDT was "not complete", it had added.
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